Adults
who stutter are being sought by researchers for a study to evaluate the safety,
effectiveness and tolerability of pagoclone, an investigational medication for
the potential treatment of adults who stutter. To determine whether you
or someone you know may qualify for the study, please visit www.StutteringStudy.com
or call 866-469-0444.

Stuttering
is a speaking disorder affecting an estimated three million Americans –
approximately one percent of the population. It can cause high levels of
social anxiety in individuals, particularly in speaking situations, and affects
four times as many men as women. Stuttering is often characterized by
interruptions in the flow of speech by repetition of syllables, prolongation of
sounds or unplanned stoppages. The cause is not clearly understood and varies
among individuals. Some research in the last decade suggests that stuttering
may result from disruption to the brain's speech pathway during earlier
developmental years.

"Stuttering
can have a tremendous impact on a person's life: their social functioning,
their occupational achievement," said Dr. Gerald A. Maguire, a lead investigator
of the pagoclone stuttering study and Associate Professor of Clinical
Psychiatry at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine.
"The treatment challenge for the future is not only to improve fluency, but to
reduce the individual's anxiety and avoidances of certain feared speaking
situations."

Safety
and efficacy data from a previous pagoclone clinical trial were presented at
the 2008 National Stuttering Association meeting as well as to the Oxford
Dysfluency meeting in England. The new research study is designed to
determine whether adults treated with the investigational medication,
pagoclone, experience a reduction in stuttered syllables compared to those
administered a placebo (an inactive medication or "sugar pill").

"As the largest support organization for people who stutter,
the National Stuttering Association advocates research into effective
treatments for stuttering," said Jim McClure, media relations director for the
association. "While we do not endorse specific treatments, we are excited about
the prospect of a future medication that may help some people who stutter
improve their fluency which in turn may help the individual to gain
self-confidence."

Pagoclone
is a novel, non-benzodiazepine, selective GABA-A receptor agonist that was
originally developed and investigated as a potential treatment for generalized
anxiety disorder and panic disorder. During the clinical study, it was
observed that a few participants with a history of stuttering experienced less
stuttering while taking the investigational drug.

"Pagoclone
works with the chemical GABA or gamma amino butyric acid, a neuro-chemical
involved with mediating anxiety and potentially fine muscle motion. In
this way, we believe it may affect the mechanism that ultimately improves
stuttering symptoms," said Dr. Maguire.

"If
this study is successful, future investigations may combine study medication
with speech therapy to determine whether that will lead to better results,"
said Dr. Maguire.

Approximately
330 people who stutter will be enrolled to receive either pagoclone or a
placebo. The research study will require six office visits and four
telephone check-ins over an eight-month period. At the end of the
eight-month treatment period, participants may have an option to choose to
continue in an extension of the study in which all participants will receive
the investigational medication, pagoclone, for approximately 12 months.
All study-related doctor's visits, procedures and study medication will be
provided at no cost. The participants may receive compensation for
travel-related expenses.

To
be eligible for the current pagoclone clinical study, participants must be
between the ages of 18 and 80 and have a history of stuttering prior to the age
of eight. All adults must be English speaking with an eighth grade
education level and meet additional eligibility requirements. Details are
available at www.StutteringStudy.com
or by phoning 866-469-0444.

# # #

NOTE
TO REPORTERS, EDITORS AND PRODUCERS: Local physicians and individuals who
stutter are available for interviews upon request. Also available for
broadcast use, is background video footage featuring Dr. Gerald Maguire,
Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the University of California,
Irvine School of Medicine and two individuals who stutter.